Toy



Nov. 21, 1939. H. D. ALLEN 2.180.623

TOY

Filed March 8, 1939 IN VENTOR.

- Harold flfllle/I/ BY W) M ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 21, 1939 UNITED s TATes PATENT oFr cE v TOY Harold D. Allen, East Hampton, Conn, assignor to The Gong Bell Manufacturing Company, East Hampton, Conn, a corporation of Con- I necticut Application March 8, 1939, Serial No. 260,533

6 Claims.

the toy the life-like movements of the animal or character that it is intended to'simulate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toy of novel construction, which will impart to the leg members of the toy, when the toy is actuated, a combined reciprocating and rocking motion simulating the natural movement of the imitated animal.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved toy of simple and durable construction and economical to manufacture.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawing, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the above statement of the objects of my invention is intended generally to explain the samewithout limiting it in any manner.

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a toy dog embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view, showing several positions of the front leg members.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view, showing several positions of the hind leg members.

Referring to the drawing, the toy comprises a body member i made from wood or any other suitable material. Although the body member I simulates in outline a dog, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular animal illustrated. It may be applied to any toy animal, toy character or the like.

As shown in Fig. 3, axles l8 and I9 are mounted to extend laterally through the front and rear portions respectively of body member i. Axle l9 has front wheels l6 and I! concentrically mounted on the ends thereof. Axle l8 has similarly mounted thereon wheels 14 and I5.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1, each wheel has movably mounted thereon a generally J-shaped leg member. More specifically, wheel I6 carries leg member 4; wheel ll, leg member 5; wheel I l, leg member 2; and wheel I5, leg member 3. Leg members 4 and 5, which constitute the front legs of the toy animal are identical in construction and contour. Leg members 2 and 3 which constitute the rear or hind legs of the toy animal are identical in construction with front leg members 4 and 5, but differ somewhat in shape and design from said front leg members.

Rear leg members 2 and 3 are somewhat squat and short in appearance so as to conform as much as possible to the hind legs of the depicted animal. Said leg members 2, 3, 4 and 5 may. be

made from metal, cardboard, fibre board or any other suihciently stiff material.

Each leg member is formed with a lower slot and an upper slot. More specifically, leg member 4 is formed with upper slot l2 and lower slot l3:

leg member 5, upper slot i201. and lower slot l3a;

leg'member 2, upper slot' iii and lower slot H; and leg member 3, upper slot ill! and lower slot Ha. The function these slots perform in the operation of the toy will be hereinafter explained.

As shown in Fig. 1, pin 9 is eccentrically mounted on wheel iii. The shank of said pin 9 passes through slot it of leg member 4, so that said pin 9 slides relative to said slot. Likewise, there is also eccentrically mounted on wheel ll, pin to, which slides relative to slot lSa. It should be noted that pin fl is mounted on wheel l6 diametrically opposed to pin 9aon wheel ll, so that irrespective of the positions leg members 4 and 5 may assume while in motion, said pins 9 and 9a will always be diametrically opposed to each other.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, spacers 8b and 8.0 are rotatably and concentrically mounted on both sides of body member i, above wheels I6 and ii respectively, by means'of pins 3 and 8a. The

shanks of pins 8 andfla pass through upper slots H2 and l2d respectively so that said slots slide along said pins. It should be noted that pins 8 and 8a are stationary while pins 9 and 9% move With wheels l6 and l! respectively. The peripheral faces of spacers 8b and to abut the peripheral faces of wheels l6 and ii, thereby rotating in unison whenever wheels I6 and l l revolve.

Referring to the rear portion of the body. of the toy, pin l is eccentrically mounted on wheel 2 and pin la. is eccentrically mounted on wheel 3, bothpins being positioned diametrically opposite to each other. The shanks of pins l and la extend through slots ll and lid respectively and said pins slide relative to said slots. Spacers 6b and 6c are rotatably and concentrically mounted on both sides of body member I above wheels ill and B5 respectively, by means of stationary pins 6 and 6a. The peripheral faces of spacers 6b and 6c abut the peripheral faces of or cord S, the movements of the various leg members are as follows:

When the toy is in the position shown in Fig. 1, leg member 5 is in advance of leg member 4. As wheels l6 and I1 revolve, a combined reciprocating and rocking motion is imparted to leg members l and 5, thus causing a series of alternate movements of the leg members, thereby simulating the natural movements of the imitated animal. As wheels I6 and I! revolve, pins 9 and 9a ride in their respective slots l3 and I3a. Pins 8 and So being stationary, slots l2 and Ho slide along the shanks of said pins.

As all four wheels l4, l5, l6 and I? revolve,

spacers 6b, 60, 8b and 80 will revolve on the shanks of their respective pins 8, 6a., 8 and 8a. This action imparts an interesting motion to the leg members of the toy or character.

. When pin 9 is at its lowest point, said pin will abut the lower end of slot I3 and pin 8 will abut the uppermost end of slot [2; pin So. on wheel ll will perforce be located at its highest point and will therefore abut the uppermost end of slot l 3a and pin 8a will abut the lower end of slot l2a.

As wheel l6 revolves, each time pin 9 comes in contact with the uppermost end of slot l3, leg member 4 will be raised and it is because of this construction that there is imparted to each leg member a series of combined reciprocating and rocking movements which simulate the walking animal. The operation of all four wheels and their respective leg members is the same.

It will be noted that slots l3 and Ito, H' and Ha are about double the length of slots l2 and Ho, I0 and Illa respectively. All the slots are parallel with each other and are formed so as to be inclined to the peripheries of each wheel and spacer. The length of each of the lower slots l3, l3a, ll, Ha. is approximately equal to the radius of wheels l6, l1, l4 and I5.

As a source of further amusement, a noiseproducing mechanism is mounted upon the rear and bottom portions of body member I. Briefly, the underside of the rear portion of body member I is grooved to form a channel 20. A ratchet member 33 is mounted upon axle l 8 so that it will rotate within channel 20. It will be noted that axle I8 is square in cross-section except at its ends, A resilient leaf spring 2! is secured at one end by means of a staple 22 to the underside of body member I. The free end of said spring 2| contacts the teeth of ratchet member 23 as the latter rotates when the rear wheels l4 and I5 revolve, thus producing a series of noises. Any noise-producing mechanism may be combined with my invention and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the particular noise-producing mechanism described herein.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that various alterations and modifications may be made in construction and arrangement of parts without departing from its spirit.

For example, spacers 8b, 80, 6b and 60 may be omitted and pins of sufficient length may be employed.

The shape and contour of the leg members will of course depend on the type of animal or character to be imitated.

My invention is not to be limited to a four wheel toy and can be readily adapted and utilized for a two or three wheel toy.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising a body member simulating an animal or the like, wheels upon which said body member is mounted, leg members having a lower and upper slot formed therein, each of said leg members being movably mounted upon each of said wheels, a first pin passing through said upper slot and into said body, a second pin eccentrically mounted upon each wheel, each of said second pins cooperating with the lower slots of each leg member to impart to said leg member a combined reciprocating and rocking motion, when the wheels are revolved.

2. A toy as claimed in claim 1 in which the slots of each leg member are parallel to each other and inclined to the peripheries of the wheels.

3. A toy as claimed in claim 1, in which noise producing means is associated therewith.

4. A toy comprising a figure, wheels upon which said figure is supported, leg members having an upper and lower slot formed therein movably mounted upon said wheels, a pin eccentrically mounted upon each wheel, each of said pins being located diametrically opposite to the corresponding pin and being movably connected to the lower slot of each leg member, a stationary pin secured to the body member above each wheel and connected to the upper slot of each leg member, each of the pins cooperating with their respective slots to impart a series of alternate movements to each of said leg members, when the wheels of the toy revolve.

5. A toy comprising a figure, wheels upon which said figure is mounted, leg members having an upper and lower slot formed therein movv ably mounted upon said wheels, a pin eccentrical- 1y mounted upon each wheel, each of said pins extending through the lower slot of each leg member, a stationary pin secured to the figure above each wheel and extending through the up- 1 per slot of each leg member, a spacer rotatably mounted on each of said stationary pins, the peripheral faces of said spacers and the peripheral faces of said wheels abutting each other,

each of the pins cooperating with their respec 

